Is it a persistent illusion, or delusion, that we see ourselves as inherently better than the ancient followers of God? We scoff at their faithlessness. Why couldn’t they see the truth of what was going on? Why didn’t they listen to the prophets? Why did they worship those silly idols? We think...

The ten chapters of Matthew 13—22 are about the same thing, and it’s one of Matthew’s central ideas. But it’s likely not something you learned about in church.